CLUED-UP!

Here are the answers to yesterday's cryptic crossword clues...

Colin Dexter's favourite clue was:

Nothing squared is cubed
(3 letters)

the answer to which is

OXO

'O' signifying nothing, squared (times 2, or 0 x 0),
cubed = oxo as in the famous stock cube

and Sandy Balfour's choice:

I say nothing
(3 letters)

which gives

EGO

'I' is the whole word, 'ego'; 'say' gives 'eg'
(as in e.g., for example, or 'say') and
nothing is, once again, zero or O

Well done ROB for being the first to correctly guess both clues, followed closely by SHEILA who was also the first to solve Gill's favourite cryptic clue posited in yesterday's comments: HIJKLMNO (5 letters) which was 'water'. Why? 'H' to 'O' or H2O! Brilliant! All we need now is the answer to Rob's 'Spokeswoman in aircrash' (5 letters) Any answers, anyone?

In the meanwhile, here's another puzzle - a seasonal one that is ideally suited to this busiest of times, since it is absolutely self-solving! Not sure who 'Jim & Marsha' are but, since it's the season for sharing, I've borrowed their greeting!

Happy Holidays!

A FEW CROSS WORDS

I recently heard a discussion on on the wireless about cryptic crosswords and how to solve them with reference to a new book on the subject by Colin Dexter (creator of the crossword-loving Inspector Morse) and another crossword-booker, Sandy Balfour.

They were both asked for their favourite cryptic clues and here they are from Mr Dexter:

Nothing squared is cubed (3 letters)

and from Mr Balfour:

I say nothing (3 letters)

Answers (if you're not crossworders) tomorrow...